---
When Kaelen heard the words whispered by the spell, an indescribable wave of excitement surged within him. "He had received a reward."
Rewards appeared after killing mana beasts. The stronger the monster, the greater the reward.
Mana began to concentrate around his hand like golden dust vibrating in the air. At first, it was just a vague, transparent shimmer, but within seconds, these clusters of light became more defined, taking shape and transforming into a visible object.
A small piece appeared first—sharp and white. Then, the remaining parts came together to form a complete shape. In Kaelen's palm lay a short dagger, cold yet strangely alive to the touch.
He lifted the dagger, watching the reflection on its surface. It was made from a white tooth. Its edges seemed skillfully carved, but it was obvious that the dagger was a natural formation.
"This… must be the tooth of that dog."
Kaelen lightly ran his thumb along the edge. The dagger was sharp enough to cut without feeling it. Even the slightest pressure could tear the skin. Its cold, smooth surface gleamed almost like glass—but this brightness was not a false elegance; rather, it revealed the weapon's deadly nature.
This was the first magical item he had ever obtained in his life.
Kaelen's mind swirled with old knowledge about how magical items were created.
When mana beasts were killed, they usually left behind only an empty shell—a corpse destined to rot. But in rare cases, the mana accumulated within the beast didn't dissipate; instead, it crystallized and transformed into an object.
These objects were called magical items. Each had a unique form; some became weapons, others accessories or talismans that granted strange abilities. Some were single-use, while others became treasures passed down through generations.
And these items were categorized according to their power levels:
1. Common – The weakest items, typically providing minor enhancements or practical utility.
2. Uncommon – Items containing a moderate amount of magic, giving noticeable advantages in battle.
3. Epic – Powerful artifacts valued by magical masters and warriors, often with special abilities.
4. Legendary – Items with histories stretching through time, wielded in battles by heroes, each with its own story.
5. Sacred – Items touched by divinity, containing either blessed or cursed magic; their use often demanded great sacrifice.
6. Radiant – Items surpassing the limits of reality, overwhelmingly powerful for mortals; a single strike could change the course of battle.
7. Divine – Artifacts of the gods or their legacy; such items existed only in myths.
In his past life, Kaelen had obtained items at most of Legendary level. But Sacred, Radiant, and Divine items… those were on a completely different plane.
He had spent a lifetime in countless battles, yet he had never witnessed the existence of such items. They existed only in legends.
Taking a deep breath, he thought of the decayed rank monster he had just slain.
"So, this item is Common level."
This was a result that met Kaelen's expectations. The dagger in his hand did not carry a mesmerizing power, nor did it hold the might to change the outcome of a battle. Yet, it was a start.
He lifted the dagger into the air and examined it carefully. Pure white, seemingly carved from bone, yet naturally formed. Its body was perfectly smooth, and when Kaelen gripped it firmly, it felt as though its texture conformed flawlessly to his fingers.
He swung it several times. The dagger cut through the air, leaving almost invisible traces.
"Light… yet so sharp."
The dagger flowed perfectly in Kaelen's hand. It was made for combat: neither too heavy nor too light, neither clumsy nor fragile.
He focused on the dagger once more.
The white tooth-made blade moved effortlessly in his hand. It swung perfectly.
"Hmm, I expected less—this is good."
After inspecting it further, Kaelen accessed the mana core within the dagger using the "Mef" form.
The magical runes on the dagger became legible.
The voice of the spell echoed in his mind:
[Artifact: Canis]
[Tier: Common]
[Description: Remnant left behind by the forest master of old.]
Kaelen read the description. He wasn't sure if this was Pheniyet's doing or simply the spell's own explanation. Once he was done with the dagger, the dagger dissolved into mana particles and settled into Kaelen's mana core in his chest.
As he straightened up, his bones protested with a creak. Having crouched in the bushes for so long, his stiff back needed stretching. The bark of an oak he held with his left hand dug into his palm while he cracked his back with his right. The familiar snaps of his joints echoed in the island's humid air.
"Now's the time," he whispered, biting his lip.
The sun had fully risen, tearing through the morning mist with golden fingers. On the horizon, the blue of the sea blended with the turquoise of the sky, like two enormous paint splotches merged with a brushstroke. At that moment, a sound pierced the perfect blue sky.
It was Pheniyet's voice, but it came from everywhere, like a spell itself. Every leaf, every rock surface seemed to echo it. It had a metallic timbre, more like an ancient gramophone needle than a human voice. Kaelen rubbed his ears. Was it disturbing the others this much too?
"Must have used a recording device," Kaelen thought. Or perhaps it was the long-lost Sound Reflector Artifact. If Pheniyet possessed such a thing, it wouldn't be surprising.
[50th-Class Battle Test at Eldorian Academy, attention magical candidates!]
Before the echoes of the voice faded, the entire nature on the island fell silent. Birds stopped chirping, the wind ceased caressing the branches. It was as if time itself had frozen. Even Kaelen's breath felt caught in his throat.
[From now on, there are 100 remaining. Students who have survived the test are now officially Eldorian Academy students. Congratulations.]
Kaelen's lips curled involuntarily. "Yeeeah!" he shouted, then immediately glanced around in fear. Speaking so loudly now was hardly wise.
Old anxieties from past times didn't allow it.
The wrinkles around his eyes deepened with his smile. Suddenly, he remembered the pure excitement he had felt experiencing this moment in his past life. Back then, he was younger, dumber, and incredibly naive. Just thinking of it now made him blush.
"Luckily, a mana beast tore me apart right after," he murmured to himself. That had allowed him to register as the 100th student at the academy. He still found the irony amusing.
Pheniyet's voice sounded again, this time more serious:
[The real exam is about to begin. On the adjacent screen, you will see the points you have earned in this test.]
The sky split in two like two gigantic curtains being drawn. Next to the sun, white letters appeared as if drawn by the finger of a god. The glowing scoreboard hung suspended in the blue sky.
Kaelen read the names one by one, clenching his fists.
[1. Estelle Escard: 107 points
2. Arnold Turner: 56 points
3. Sofia Lyons: 55 points
4. Liam Carter: 34 points
5. Rey Millor: 33 points
…
17. Olivia Nightshade: 20 points
…
89. Kaelen: 5 points]
Kaelen looked at his position. He was at the very bottom.
"Only 5 points, huh?" he muttered to himself.
He glanced at the corpses on the ground.
"So they're just scoring based on how many monsters we killed. Kill a Level 0 monster, get 1 point; a Level 1 monster, 2 points."
Before he could finish thinking, the voice spoke again:
[These points reflect the mana beasts you have slain throughout the test. From now on, you will fight both monsters and other players. The points of any player you kill will be added to your own, allowing you to climb the rankings. Good luck.]
As Pheniyet's voice faded, Kaelen continued staring at the points on the screen.
Liam and Olivia had already killed many monsters. He had no words for Arnold and Sofia—they hunted together, so their points made sense. The real issue was that Estelle's name topped the list.
"That girl's basically a massacre," Kaelen thought bitterly.
On the one hand, this competition format suited him perfectly; with such low points, no one would waste time attacking him just to climb the rankings.
But if Kaelen wanted to witness the final of this exam on the island, he would need to strive for something better.
---